Protective canopy for boats



April 24, 1962 R. J. JANDA ETAL 3,030,973

PROTECTIVE CANOPY FOR BOATS Filed April 27, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Boaser J (lo/v00 CZ HEENC'E WI DAM: IN

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E-4mm N M April 24, 1962 R. J. JANDA ETAL PROTECTIVE CANOPY FOR BOATS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Baseer r]: rig/v09 CLHQENCE 7V: DEA/LIN INVENTORS BY mum Filed April 27, 1959 April 24, 1952 R. J. JANDA ETAL 3,030,973

PROTECTIVE CANOPY FOR BOATS Filed April 27, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Reese? C; (IQ/v05 LQQE/VCE W D0141. //v if C JNVENTORS.

United States Patent Ofilice 3,@3fl,973 Patented Apr. 24, 19%2 3,030,973 PROTECTIVE CANOPY FOR BOATS Robert]. Ianda, Waupaca, Win, and Clarence W. Dahiin, Rocky River, Ohio (11 S. Main St, Natick, Mass.) Filed Apr. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 8ii9,110 6 Claims. (Cl. 135-6) This invention relates to protective covers for boats, and more particularly to a canopy especially adapted to cover a boat moored to a dock.

A problem exists in the protection of boats, especially small boats of the pleasure craft type, in that such boats by their nature should be protected from the elements in all times when not in actual use but yet no protective means employed should be so cumersome in operation as to hamper the ready use of the craft. Covers which are applied to the boat itself are without exception difiicult to emplace and to disengage. On the other hand, covers which are fixed, as for example a shed or other fixed roof at a mooring site such as a pier either require the boat to be run in and out with narrow clearances, or else it built of large enough size to avoid the latter, become unduly costly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mooring including a canopy for a boat such as a small motor boat or the like which is of light weight, economical of construction, and so constructed as to follow the utmost ease of access to the moored boat.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a protective cover which permits of easy landings and de partures of the boat with a minimum of preparation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a light weight canopy for boats which is movable so as to expose the boat for use and yet mechanically sturdy so as to resist high winds and storms.

Another object of the invention is to provide a canopy for a boat which provides a maximum of protection of the boat against the elements while maintaining freedom of access thereto.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the discussion thereof proceeds.

Stated generally, and in accordance with illustrative embodiments of the invention to be described and explained hereinbelow, our protective canopy assembly cornprises a canopy of generally arcuate cross-section which is fastened on one side to retaining means on the edge of the dock or pier, and fastened on the other side to a secondary pier, while yet being capable of at least partial longitudinal movement so as to cover or expose the boat, as the case may be. Description of the invention will be facilitated by reference to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a general view of one embodiment of our canopy in place at a lakeside.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the canopy, showing the dock partly in section.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view of our canopy taken at the point shown by the arrows in FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a View, partly in section, of the movable fastening means employed to attach our canopy to the rails thereof, taken at the point shown by the arrows in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View showing a typical removeable joint which we employ in the construction of our canopy, taken where shown by the arrows in FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a side view of another illustrative embodiment of our canopy assembly.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional elevational view of the same taken as shown by the arrows in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional detail view showing the seal which we prefer to employ between telescoping sections, taken at the point shown by the indicium in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 9' is a detail view, partly in section, of a latching means used in the construction of the alternative embodiment shown in FIGURE 6 and taken at the point shown by the arrows in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 10 is a detail view, partly in section, showing the slidable fastening means employed in connection with the sliding sections of the embodiment shown in FIG- URE 6, taken at the point shown by the arrows in FIGURE 6.

Coming now to FIGURE 1, this shows a body of water such as a lake It) with shore line 11 and a primary pier or clock 12. This dock has an edge 13 to which is attached a rail 14, as close as conveniently possible to one edge of the dock. Running parallel with the pier or dock 12 is a second pier 15, spaced sufliciently from edge 13 so as to provide a runway for the craft to be moored and protected. Fastened on to auxiliary pier I5 is a second track or rail 16, which of course is aligned parallel with and substantially at the same elevation as the first track or rail 14. Spanning the two rails 14 and 16 is a canopy structure 17 which consists of a framework preferably open at both ends and which is open on the bottom, as appears from FIGURES 1, 2 and 3. We prefer to construct this canpoy member of a series of arcuate roof-stays 23 made of light weight metal tubing such as aluminum, to which is laced a covering 18 preferably of heavy duty canvas which has been treated so as to be water-repellant and mildew-resistant. The canopy assembly is securely but slidably fastened to the rails 14 and 16 by a plurality of rollers 19, one of which is shown in detail in FIGURE 4. While the canopy frame work is thus free to move longitudinally on the rails, it is prevented from becoming disengaged therefrom by suitable detent means such as the overlapping tongues 20 and 21 of the wheel mounts, again shown partly in detail in FIGURE 4. It is desirable to have the total length of track at least twice as long as the canopy proper, so that it may be slid for at least its full length. It will be evident that the canopy structure described and shown is capable of easy disassembly, for example at the end of summertime use, by reason of the light weight construction, the disassembly of the roof truss members being facilitated by the sleeve joints 22, as appears particularly from FIGURES 2 and 5.

The manner of operation of our improved canopy will now be described. FIGURE 1 shows our canopy in protection position, extended outwardly towards its limiting position at the far end of the two piers. In order to moor a boat therein, the canopy is run towards shore as shown by the double arrow in FIGURE 1, thus leaving open the mooring space between the two piers at the off-shore end of the dock. The boat to be moored and protected is run in and secured to the dock. This operation is facilitated, particularly the exit of passengers from the boat, by the fact that the canopy is in its retracted position, close to shore. After the personnel have left the craft and the latter is suitably secured to the dock, the canopy is then run to its limiting position away from the shore and thus over the boat. This sequence of steps is reversed when it is desired to enter the boat and cruise therewith.

For some purposes, the alternative embodiment shown in FIGURES 610 inclusive of the drawings is especially suitable. In this embodiment, the longitudinally slidable portions of the canopy assembly comprise only a portion of the latter, in the illustrative case, two-thirds of the canopy being slidable. The final third of the canopy assembly, 30, is fixed to the rail beds 31 and 32 by bolt means 33. The remainder of the canopy structure is in two additional sections 34 and 35, all of approximately the same length as the fixed member 30 but of successively smaller height and width, so that the three sections telescope inside of each other, as is apparent from FIGURES 6 and 7. We have found it desirable to include a sealing strip at the two telescoping joints, which we prefer to take the form of a sponge rubber strip 36, adhesively fastened to the inner of the telescoping pair in the fashion shown. This forms a watertight and weather-proof seal when the telescoping canopy is in its extended position, as shown in FIGURE 6. Here again, we mount the slidable portions of the canopy structure on roller Wheels 37, which are prevented from coming loose from the track by an overhanging bar member 38, as appears in detail in FIGURE 10. When the tripartite canopy structure is extended, the entire device is secured in that position by a bolt latch 39, shown in detail in FIGURE 9, which locks the outer end of the smallest telescoping section in its extended position to the rail plate 40.

It will be evident that a number of illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, and that numerous modifications in detail, materials of construction, may be made within the scope of the invention and the appended claims. The latter, accordingly, are to be construed broadly Within the broad spirit of the invention.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A protective boat mooring arrangement which extends from a shoreline over a body of water and which comprises:

(a) a first pier having a walkway of sufficient width for the accommodation of discharged passengers,

(b) said walkway having a lateral edge,

() a first substantially horizontal elongated track on said first pier located adjacent to said lateral edge,

(d) a second pier spaced laterally from and generally parallel to the lateral edge of said first pier,

(e) a second substantially horizontal elongated track on said second pier,

(f) canopy means spanning said tracks and being operatively connected to each of said tracks,

(g) at least a portion of said canopy means always being maintained in a permanently extended and non-collapsible position along a substantial portion of the longitudinal axis of said tracks,

(h) at least a portion of said canopy means being operatively connected to and slideably engageable with said track means so that said portion is free to move back and forth in a substantially horizontal plane along said tracks in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tracks,

(i) said canopy means being open at the bottom,

(j) said canopy means having at least one end which, in cooperation with one end of said first and second piers present an unrestricted opening which is large enough to easily permit a boat to enter beneath said canopy means.

2. A boat mooring arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said canopy means comprises a series of spaced arcuate stays supporting a sheet covering and articulated so as to join said tracks and having at least one portion slideably fastened thereto.

3. A boat mooring arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said canopy means comprises a series of spaced arcuate stays supporting a sheet covering and articulated so as to join said tracks and. comprising a single structure movable as a whole.

4. A boat mooring structure according to claim 3 wherein said tracks are at least twice as long as said canopy structure.

5. A protective boat mooring arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said canopy means comprises a series of telescoping arcuate roof structures of successively smaller arc size, one of which fixedly joins said edges of said pier and the others of which join said tracks and are slideably movable thereon so as to be capable of telescoping in and out.

6. A boat mooring arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said canopy means comprises three telescoping arcuate roof structures of successively smaller arc size, the largest of which fixedly joins said first and second piers, the smaller two of which join said tracks and are slideably movable thereon so as to be capable of telescoping in and out.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,456,478 White May 22, 1923 1,528,375 Hampden et a1. Mar. 3, 1925 2,470,337 Campbell May 17, 1949 2,564,951 Blagden Aug. 21, 1951 2,698,629 Hall Jan. 4, 1955 

